New York among top destinations for summer road trip

New York ranks as the 7th best place for a summer road trip, new information from WalletHub reports.

WalletHub—a social website launched by Evolution Finance that offers financial tools and information for consumers and small-business owners—used 21 key metrics to compare the 50 states for its 2014’s Best & Worst States for Summer Road Trips. The report considers various conditions that can affect travelers on the road, including driving costs, lodging prices, traffic safety, weather and attractions.

New York ranked first for its number of attractions and second for its vehicle miles traveled per capita. The state ranked fifth for the least car thefts per capita and 45th for lowest price of three-star hotels.

The state ranked 42nd for its average gas prices and 35th for the number of nightlife options per capita, the report shows.

Overall, Oregon ranked first on the list, while Mississippi ranked last.

The report notes that during hotter months traveling and gas prices tend to climb, peaking in August. Domestic and international travelers spent $621.4 billion on leisure travel last year, the study shows, and in 2012 some 79 percent of all domestic leisure trips were by car.